Ethical Theories
Ethical Theories are attempts to provide a clear, unified account of what our ethical obligations are. They are attempts, in other words, to tell a single “story” about what we are obligated to do, without referring directly to specific examples. It is common in discussions of ethics to appeal to one or more ethical theories in an attempt to clarify what it is right or wrong to do in particular situations.
Key Questions
- Are moral values relative? If so, relative to what? Are they absolute/universal? If so, universal to what?
- What makes an action right or wrong?
- Which actions are we required by morality to perform?
- Do consequences matter?
- Is it ever permissible to do something morally wrong in order to achieve good consequences?
- Is it important to do actions with good intentions?
- And what are good intentions?
- What makes a good society?
- What makes a government legitimate?
Key Terms
- Relativism
- Minimum Conception of Morality (MCM)
- Normative theories
- Workable theories
- Meta-ethical values
- Morality
- Moral isolationism
- Sentimentalism
- Personal subjectivism
- Deontology
- Divine Command Theory (DCT)
- Natural Law Theory (NLT)
- Egoism
- Duty
- Utilitarianism
- Categorical imperative
- Social contract / theory of justice
- Feminism
- Virtue
Key Philosophers
- Aristotle
- David Hume
- Immanuel Kant
- John Stuart Mill
- John Rawls
- Carol Gilligan
